A Coalition government will provide new funding for international science initiatives and change the structure of the Office of Chief Scientist to a statutory authority if elected to government.

The policy, released late yesterday, includes almost $255 million in funding over the next four years for science and innovation research.

But critics say the policy fails to deliver the level of funding needed to keep Australian science competitive on the world stage.

The Coalition has pledged to provide $11.4 million for new postgraduate research training positions in universities, $16.7 million for the Science Connections (SCOPE) program and $21 million for the newly formed International Science Initiative, which will replace the current International Science Linkages program.

Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Sophie Mirabella, says the Office of Chief Scientist will transform it into a statutory body to ensure it "isn't politicised".

"We want the position to be removed from political influence," says Mirabella.

A new charter with the Australian scientific community "to ensure that scientific activities funded by the public purse are conducted on an objective, independent and apolicital basis," according to the policy.

But Anna-Maria Arabia, CEO of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS), questions the need for a new charter.

"Significant efforts have been made to establish a very useful and effective charter within organisations such as the CSIRO," says Arabia. "Where we should have a charter that is a little more elaborate is the under-representation of woman in senior positions in science."

She says FASTS is encouraged by the continued funding of SCOPE, as well as the International Science Initiative.

"Australia produces 3% of the globe's research output," says Arabia. "Anything that supports Australia bilateral and multilateral science relations is critically important so that we don't become isolated."

'Steady as she goes'

But Arabia says both parties have failed to deliver significant funding for scientific research.

"This election campaign generally has been very underwhelming for the science sector," she says. "It's disappointing because science is fundamental to economic growth.

"Our mining industry may not have been booming if it wasn't for science, and if you consider the National Broadband Network ... it couldn't fundamentally exist without a strong science foundation."

Professor Bob Williamson, Secretary for Science Policy at the Australian Academy of Science, agrees.

"It's a great pity that neither the Coalition, nor the ALP, have seized upon the fact that many of the decisions government is going to have to make during the coming three years are scientifically relevant," Williamson says.

While both parties are committed to retaining the current level of funding for scientific research, more should be allocated to ensure it reaches 3% of gross domestic profit - the average for similar-sized OECD countries, he says.

"We're talking about a tiny amount of money when you compare this to many of the other things government is looking at," says Williamson.

"Neither the policies of the Coalition or the ALP are a vision for the future. It's at best 'steady as she goes'."

"There are some gestures to improving funding when it comes to the International Science Initiative and the training scheme for domestic students, but overall they are putting forward a few million [dollars] for science, while taking out a few billion [dollars] out of environment and climate change programs," says Milne.

She is also critical of the development of a new charter for science research.

"That has a very hollow ring about it because all of us remember the way scientists were afraid to speak out during the Howard years and are still afraid to speak because of what might happen with their funding," says Milne.

"We're also very much aware that it is Coalition MPs who stand up with the climate sceptics attacking the scientists in Australia who are members of the IPCC."

Milne says the Australian Greens will push for the investment of funds raised by their proposed carbon tax and Labor's mining rent tax into scientific research and developing 'green technologies'.

"We'd like to see a sovereign fund established where interest can be used to support the future needs of Australia," she says.